Dubuisson: Even more memories of the Yambilee

Just when you thought it was safe to read the Daily World without finding more stories about the Yambilee, I have more information to report.

After the original article Nov. 4, Mary Gail Lamonte told me that, back in the 1950’s, she was a Yamette — but only because they needed another girl to complete the six-person singing group.

Mary Gail was persuaded to join the Yamettes by their first musical director and chaperone, Mrs. Martha Clary. However, Mrs. Clary counseled Mary Gail to sing softly or, better yet, just to mouth the words. Mary Gail was no McGuire Sister.

Mary Gail also reported that Jeanie Bertrand, the older sister of my former classmate “Tootie” Bertrand, and Greta Garbo, Opelousas resident and not the movie star, were also Yamettes.

The photo of the singing group boarding the bus that was published Nov. 7 included Yamettes Marceline Cortez Hrachovy, Sharee Doucet Hunter, Stephanie Hrachovy Roberts, Julie Andrus Mliczek, Allison Jones and Laurie Richard.

Although I mentioned Imani Guillory in my original article about the Yambilee, her photograph never made it into print. She was the 2009 Yambilee Queen and presided over the Grand Louisiyam Parade that year. I am delighted to include her photograph with this column.

Yamette Marceline Hrachovy identified the 61st King of Yambilee as J. A. Allen, the much-beloved character about town whose photo was published Nov. 7. J. A. passed away recently, and I am sure that heaven is a happier place now that J. A. is there.

Dr. Tom Darbonne called to tell me that he was in the Port Barre School Band that marched in the Yambilee parade on Oct. 26, 1958, when President John F. Kennedy rode in the parade. Kennedy was a U.S. Senator at the time.

Tom said that the Port Barre band immediately preceded Kennedy’s convertible, and served as his opening act. In case you were wondering, Tom played the clarinet — sort of the Pete Fountain of Port Barre. Tom had a photo to commemorate the occasion, and if he ever finds it, I will share it.

According to information I was able to learn about Kennedy’s visit, Morgan Goudeau III, who was an Assistant District Attorney at the time, had made the arrangements for Kennedy to ride in the parade. This was somewhat of a spur-of-the-moment thing, and Morgan had trouble finding a suitable convertible for Kennedy.

None of the local dealers had a new convertible in stock, but Opelousas resident Alan Penick came to the rescue. He had just purchased a Pontiac convertible, and he made it available for Kennedy. Problem solved, the parade proceeded, and Kennedy was eventually elected president.

1901 photograph of the Opelousas Post Office and Federal Court Building

While wandering in and out of shops in Savannah in 1995 or so, I stumbled across a purveyor of old photographs whose collection was organized alphabetically by states. Intrigued, I found the Louisiana section and sorted through the usual pictures of old Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Photograph of the Post Office and Federal Court Building taken in 1901. The exterior has not been significantly altered over the years, and looks pretty much the same today as it did in 1901.(Photo: Collection of Ed Dubuisson)

Then, much to my surprise, between New Orleans and Plaquemine I found a photograph of Opelousas that was dated 1901. It shows the old Post Office and Federal Court Building that is still standing on Court Street, across from the St. Landry Parish Court House.

The proprietor had never heard of Opelousas and knew nothing about the building, but was able to say that it was in the Richardson Romanesque style of architecture. I had no reason to doubt him because I had no idea what that meant, but I quickly purchased the photograph at a very reasonable price.

I have since learned that the building is a revival of the early Romanesque style of architecture that is characterized by large rounded arches over windows and entryways. Henry Hobson Richardson is the architect who pioneered the style and, amazingly enough, he was born in Louisiana.

However, Jeremiah O’Rourk was the architect for the Opelousas building, which was constructed in 1893. The 1901 photograph shows the typical arches and the brick construction that are characteristic of the style. Note the two rather elegant chimneys on the roof and the terra cotta ornamentation over the entry arch.

Also note the horse in front of the building, but no cars or parking meters. There were probably a lot more horses than cars in Opelousas in 1901, and horses had hitching posts, not parking meters. Given the lack of any hitching posts in the picture, perhaps there was an adjacent horse-hitching lot for patrons’ horses. Parking has always been a problem around the Post Office.

Does anyone know anything about what appears to be an attractive home that is at the far left side of the photograph? If so, please contact me.

Along the Rialto

Congratulations to Bobby Ardoin on being named the “Grand Old Man” of the Daily World Sports Section. How old and grand do you have to be to qualify as a G.O.M.?

Happy holidays to everyone and all the best in 2019!

Enough for now. I can be reached at ebdubuisson@gmail.com. Until next time, I am Ed and out.

Dubuisson is a lifelong resident of Opelousas and a member of a law firm that dates to the 19th Century. He is a graduate of Tulane Law School and wrote articles for the Tulane Law Review and other publications while at Tulane. His first newspaper article was published in the Daily World when he was 16.